Speculation about Pink performing at Sphere is flying around like, well, Pink performing at Sphere.
Buzz has intensified about the 46-year-old superstar. The Sun has been grinding the rumor mill, posting over the weekend a lucrative deal was already in place.
Independent reporting leads me to believe Pink (legal name Alecia Moore) is all but signed to play 2027. Sphere officials have neither confirmed nor denied published reports. Reps are staying true to company policy by not commenting on any unannounced headliners.
Pink/Sphere speculation dates back months, ramping up over the weekend. The superstar is known to require aerial rigging (like Pink du Soleil) for all live productions. About a decade ago, she reportedly scouted Vegas venues, with aerials a must for her shows. She never made it to the production-concept phase.
She’s even played while hurt, soaring above the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in her performance in September 2024. The superstar appeared to “tweak” her left knee just before the encore of “So What.” A pair of stagehands led her aerial harness, as she shouted, “You don’t need knees to fly!” blast it on the Exosphere, next year.
Flav on the loose
The Backstreet Boys have invited all the U.S. women’s Olympic medalists attending Flavor Flav’s Las Vegas celebration to a show at Sphere.
Flav caught AJ McLean on FaceTime chat over the weekend to start the process.
“These ladies deserve their flowers, they deserve their respect,” said McLean, who is a “girl dad” and offered the whole crew tickets to a BSB show in July.
Flav’s “She Got Game” weekend, a partnership with MGM Resorts International, runs July 16-19. BSB plays Sphere from July 16-18.
Flav also scored tickets to Ed Sheeran’s show at Allegiant Stadium on July 18, with a private meet-and-greet, though with Flav, “private” seems off the table.
Meruelo $100K
Sahara owner Alex Meruelo also went to the boxing ring over the weekend. He scored a knockout, in a charitable sort of way.
Meruelo donated $100,000 the inaugural Mike Tyson Invitational boxing event on Saturday. Meruelo’s hotel also hosted an opening-night dinner and poolside chat on Thursday with Tyson and the great Jim Gray.
Tyson and Gray also visited the ever-fascinating Hall of Excellence at Fontainebleau, a partnership between Gray and his wife, Frann; the resort; and NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. Tyson’s signed gloves are among the items displayed.
The last holdout
South Point owner and Las Vegas hospitality icon Michael Gaughan does not own or carry a cell phone. His business chats are from a hard line in his executive office at the hotel. He does not attend events unless he has a hard ticket. He refuses to sponsor luxury boxes on behalf of his company if he can’t access the space with a physical ticket. This is what a legend makes.
Hagar of the seas
The guy who looked like Sammy Hagar taking Lake Bellagio in Fortuna, Carbone Riviera’s custom 33-foot watercraft, was. This was Thursday night Hagar and his wife, Kari; were in the group that posted from the water, with the Bellagio fountains, Hagar’s Park MGM marquee, and his Cabo Wabo tavern at Miracle Mile Shops in the backdrop.
“We’re having a party!” Hagar called out, using saltier language. He continues his “Best of All Worlds” residency at Dolby Live on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, where he is the captain of the S.S. Red Rocker.
Cool Hang Alert
Relentlessly popular Vegas acts Latin Breeze and High Octane play Amp’d at M Resort this weekend. The nine-piece Latin Breeze outfit brings the multicultural groove stylings on Friday, and High Octane brings the popular covers on Saturday. No cover required, reservations (with various table minimums) on the menu, go to ampd.uvtix.com/
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.